Indian girl beaten to death because mother took water from well without washing feet

A baby girl from the untouchable caste was beaten to death by villagers who attacked her mother because she drew water from a well without first washing her feet.

By Dean Nelson in Delhi

4:45PM GMT 08 Jan 2009

Three month old Anchal died on Wednesday as she and her mother were savagely beaten by seven men incensed that she had broken a centuries-old village tradition which humiliates members of India's lowest and most oppressed caste.

Saroj Lal, 25, was first turned away from the handpump in Adrouni village in Madhya Pradesh, when she approached wearing slippers. A higher caste villager told her Dalits were dirty and not allowed to draw water without first washing their hands and feet.

He began abusing her over her low caste until she left to complain at the local police station along with her husband and daughter. According to police, the villager, known as Makhan, called six of his friends and headed them off en route. He attacked Saroj, grabbed her baby and threw her to the floor, killing her instantly.

Police superintendent Shivpuri Sharma said the men would be charged with murder, but were now on the run. "We have started a hunt for the accused and they will be arrested soon. A case of murder and attempt to murder has been filed against them," he said.

Caste is one of the most incendiary issues in Indian society and the dalits or untouchables suffer the worst discrimination and violence because of it. Dalit boys are often thrashed for looking at higher caste girls, women are beaten for "polluting" wells by drinking from them, and others have been attacked for merely casting their shadow on high caste temple walls.